Oh yes, it’s that wonderful, wonderful time of year again that we all know and love (…not really). There’s still a little part of you that is convinced that college is really just like Whose Line is it Anyway? You know, “where everything is made up and the points don’t matter.” I know you know what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, the points do matter, and I’m sorry if I’m being the bearer of bad news.
Trust me, I get it. At this point in the semester, you really don’t care about anything anymore and don’t want to be bothered doing homework or studying; however, you do still care even the slightest bit because you don’t literally want to see your GPA tank, despite all the joking you have done about it.
Sadly, I can’t guarantee that you will ace your final papers and exams; but, what I can guarantee is that if you actually utilize these tips, you will be able to muster up the work ethic it takes to get through this last week of classes and finals week with most of your sanity still intact. C’mon, keep reading. I promise I’m not just listing more things that you need to do:
1. Clean your living space (Yes, I’m serious).
A cluttered workspace or entire apartment can make you anxious and unable to truly concentrate. Just take a few moments and pick up your clothes off the floor, organize the piles of papers scattered about, and dare I say…make your bed. Really, do it. I swear you will feel more at ease and less stressed about all of the work and studying you have to do. You have roommates? Tell them about the inspirational article you read (*cough* *cough*) and work together to clean your apartment or dorm. You’ll all benefit in the end.
2. Make a list.
Phew, now you can actually see your desk again. What do you need to do? What exams do you need to study for? Prioritize what you need to do by date and importance. You may think that you can just keep it all straight in your head, but that’s easier said than done. Making a list also gives you a visual of what you’ve accomplished and what you still have left to do, which is motivating in itself because you can actually see the progress you are making. Be sure to incorporate things like going out into your schedule. If your schedule recognizes that you are human and don’t want to be a homework-doing hermit, it will be easier to deal with because rewards are built-in.
3. Get some sleep
*For those of you who have forgotten what that is, no worries! Just click on the link.
Yes, sleep really should be on your list of things to do, too. Focusing is much easier when you have actually gotten your beauty sleep instead of pulling an all-nighter. I know, I know, you, “don’t have time” if you’re actually going to get everything done. That’s where managing your time swoops in to save the day. Yep, so keep reading…you got this!
4. Make nutritional food choices.
If you’re anything like me, you definitely don’t want to chow down on a salad when you are stressed. You want the beefy fast food burgers and cookies galore. As hard as it can be, do your body and mind the favor, and make the healthy choices that will give you the energy that you need instead of the junk foods that you crave. Eating unhealthy, heavy foods will leave you feeling like a slug with even less motivation than you started with. Even simply cooking at home instead of ordering takeout is a start. When you’re finally done with these two weeks, by all means treat yourself to some tasty takeout.
5. Manage your time.
Make sure you can fit everything into your schedule by managing your time wisely. Stay focused on whatever you’re working on at the moment, as hard as it may be, and it will pay off in the end. If you concentrate and accomplish things, you will have time to do things you actually want to do instead of just being bogged down strictly by what you have to do. You know, like binging on Netflix, going out with friends and taking naps. Browsing the web is okay between completing items on your list, but make sure to maintain self-control by allotting yourself a limited amount of time, like ten minutes here and there to clear your head. Yep, I just OK’d that adorable animal video you just watched. You’re welcome.
6. Treat yourself.
Plan something big for when you are finally done. Whether it is throwing a celebratory party with all of your closest friends, planning a weekend getaway, buying that gorgeous handbag you’ve had your eye on for months or getting your entire family together for dinner at your favorite restaurant when you get home for winter break, it’s your choice. After all, you deserve it for all of your hard work and dedication this semester.
So now I’m sending you back into the real world with the tips you need to be studious and successful while not depriving yourself of having fun. It’s all about being well-rounded. If you cut out everything fun, you still won’t get anything done because you’ll be doing nothing but focusing on what you can’t do.
Hey, guess what? Writing this article was on my list. That means that these tips must work, right? Right. Wishing you success and sanity during your last week of classes and the best of luck during finals week!